Saints play Panthers close, hurt by mistakes in 41-38 loss

And quarterback Newton’s MVP credentials got stronger after his best performance of the season in a thrilling 41-38 win in New Orleans on Sunday.

The New Orleans Saints (4-8) are coming from a 41-38 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The New England Patriots failed to hold onto a first half lead and were upset by Philadelphia, while the Carolina Panthers survived a scare from New Orleans to stay flawless at 12-0.

“We’ve discussed this before”, the Panthers coach said. “I thought our guys played with great effort and yet, there are a handful of things that come up during that game that end up hurting us, a culmination of a number of things”. You can’t say it’s scheme.

Blake Bortles’ five passing touchdowns – three of which went to Allen Robinson – were not enough for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they lost a thrilling contest 42-39 to the Tennessee Titans.

In addition to coverage mix-ups, the Saints were hurt by penalties, committing 11 for 104 yards – several of the drive-sustaining variety on third down.

There were several lead changes, but quarterback Cam Newton completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery with about a minute left to win the game.

The Saints (4-8) played well enough to make the game compelling and dramatic enough to enliven the Superdome crowd – just not well enough to outlast Newton and Co., who dropped New Orleans its fourth straight loss. Those guys are a good football team, and we’ve got to find a way to finish a game like that. In fact, I understood you called the league to make sure we do what we’re supposed to. Your secondary is so depleted that when just-signed Chris Owens was beaten for the game-winning touchdown Sunday, we press-box denizens had to look up who he was.

Broncos 17, Chargers 3: In San Diego, Brock Osweiler threw for one touchdown and Danny Trevathan intercepted Philip Rivers and returned it 25 yards for a score, leading the Broncos to a victory against the hapless Chargers.

That you wound up within a fourth-down stop of winning and a first-down conversion pass of a makeable attempt at a field goal that would have sent the game to overtime demonstrates how close most teams in the league are.

“I’m not going to get into the officiating”, Payton said after the game, although he couldn’t help himself.

“Sean Payton tried to challenge that the Panthers had 12 men in the huddle, which they did”, Pereira said in an explanation posted on Twitter.

AVERTING THEIR EYES: Carolina can wrap up a third straight NFC South championship before it takes the field for today’s later-afternoon game if the Falcons lose to Tampa Bay earlier in the day.

After floating a 16-yard pass to tight end Greg Olsen on fourth-and-4, Newton took a knee on the field. He threw touchdowns to Delanie Walker, Craig Stevens and rookie wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who had a team- and career-high 119 yards receiving on five catches.

Giants wide receiver ODELL BECKHAM JR. had six catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.

However, the Saints’ offense was unable to convert cornerback Delvin Breaux’s interception or Kenny Vaccaro’s recovery of Olsen’s fumble into points.

The dual-threat quarterback hasn’t been running as much lately, leaving that to running back Jonathan Stewart, but still has seven scoring runs this season. “I am really proud of what he did and the confidence with which he played”. “I didn’t hear a whistle, and I kind of waited, then I kept going”. Newton twice had to lead the Panthers back from fourth-quarter deficits.

Stewart scored on a 5-yard run shortly before halftime, but Graham Gano’s extra point kick was blocked by Kevin Williams and returned 82 yards by Anthony to give New Orleans a 16-13 lead.